NBA Rumors: Woj Says Knicks Made Insane Offer For Mitchell

The New York Knicks had seemed to be a shoo-in all summer to land hometown kid Donovan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz. Until the Cleveland Cavaliers swooped in and nabbed him earlier on Thursday.

But according to NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski, an early Knicks' offer to Jazz CEO Danny Ainge would have been an insanely massive haul... And somehow, just an insanely, Ainge turned it down. 

At the start of trade talks in July, New York offered Utah a Donovan Mitchell package including RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, Mitchell Robinson and three unprotected first-round picks, sources tell ESPN. Jazz turned down that offer and Robinson signed a $60M extension to stay w/ NY. https://t.co/3eDg2Mf7f1

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 2, 2022

Woj reports that the Knicks offered RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, Mitchell Robinson and three unprotected first-round picks. But Ainge presumably got greedy, and figured he had the Knicks over a barrel, so he turned it down. 

From there, the Knicks quickly signed the rim-protecting center Robinson to a $60M extension. 

Three days ago, with Barrett back in a potential package, the Knicks warned Ainge to take the offer that was on the table, or they would extend Barrett as well. Ainge called their bluff again, and the Knicks inked the former No. 3 overall pick Barrett to a 4-year, $100M+ extension Tuesday morning, and "temporarily walked away" from the trade talks, according to Woj.

That allowed the Cavs to swoop in.

Is the deal Utah got from Cleveland—Laurie Markkanen, Collin Sexton, Ochai Agbaji and three unprotected firsts—equal to the original massive Knicks offer? 

Debate amongst yourselves.

Photo: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports